NZACPE Code of Ethics

This Code of Ethics aims to protect both CPE course participants and supervisors. It stresses the values of integrity, competence, responsibility and confidentiality.

1. The Nature of Supervision:

CPE supervision is training/education of a deeply personal nature, distinct from therapy and managerial supervision. Its goal is to help course participants evaluate and improve their pastoral skills and to develop their theological and spiritual understanding of what they offer in ministry. Bound into this endeavour is the need to maintain ethical standards.

Supervisors have convinced the NZACPE of their level of self-awareness, integrity and professional competence or, in the case of supervisors-in-training, of adequate supervisory oversight (see below for ongoing training and supervision).

2. Responsibility towards Students:

Supervisors recognise the value and dignity of all course participants, regardless of race, status, sex, age, belief or personal preference.

Supervisors ensure that satisfaction of their own needs is not dependent on the course participants (e.g. they will not exploit this relationship for personal, financial, professional or sexual gain).

Supervisors remember that course participants, being in a process of education and change, are vulnerable.

Supervisors give adequate time and attention to the preparation of their CPE course programme, to each course participant's progress within the process and to the supervisor's reports at its end.

Supervisors take care in the Screening Interview to assess the potential course participant's ability to cope with stress and during the course monitor this factor, including its effect on the potential course participant's partner, family and community.

Supervisors have a responsibility to address the needs of the course participants as they prepare to return home post-course.

Supervisors will seek to ensure that all issues are resolved between supervisor and course participants before the completion of the course (particularly if challenge and/or conflict has occurred during the course).

Supervisors will be in a supervisory relationship of their own, to take care of their own levels of stress, to recognise the limits of their own competence and so know when to refer course participants to others.

Supervisors will keep up with professional literature and pursue on-going training or, where possible, peer group involvement.

Supervisors will respect each course participant's rights to privacy. They will not reveal confidential material about a course participant unless that person gives explicit permission. They will ensure that an agreement on confidentiality is reached at the start of each course.

3. Fees:

The method of payment of fees may be negotiated.

4. Complaints Procedures:

A person believing they have cause to believe that the Association or a specific supervisor has breached the NZACPE Code of Ethics should directly contacttheHuman Rights Commission: www.hrc.co.nz